Homeland Movement calls for Croat electoral unit in BiH

The Homeland Movement has called for an urgent initiative to establish a Croat electoral unit in Bosnia and Herzegovina, arguing it would ensure greater political representation for Croats in the country.

If the proposal is rejected, the HDZ coalition partner says Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina would have the right to re-establish Herceg-Bosna — the self-proclaimed Croat entity that existed during the 1990s war and was not internationally recognized.

In a statement, Homeland Movement leader Ivan Penava said that if no long-term political solution acceptable to Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina is reached through dialogue, Croats would have the right to restore the “status pro ante” — the situation prior to previous political agreements.

“That would mean the return of the Croatian Republic of Herceg-Bosnia as a constituent component of a United States of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in which case it would have our full support,” Penava said.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said he had not been informed about the initiative and criticised the Homeland Movement for failing to discuss it with its coalition partner beforehand.

“I was not aware there would be such an initiative,” Plenković said.

“As far as looking after Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a constituent people of that country is concerned, I do not believe any Croatian government has done more than we have over the past decade.”

He suggested the proposal was aimed at increasing the Homeland Movement’s political visibility on issues concerning Bosnia and Herzegovina and the rights of Croats there.

“We will discuss this at a coalition meeting and see the purpose of the initiative,” he said.

“For things to change in Bosnia and Herzegovina, more than just Croats must agree. The other sides have to agree as well, which is why the issue is complex. I understand the desire to raise one’s political profile, but I have serious reservations about doing so without consulting coalition partners.”

The president of HDZ Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dragan Čović, said the proposal was not new but acknowledged it would be extremely difficult to implement without support from the country’s other two constituent peoples.

“The Croatian Government, under Prime Minister Plenković, has made extraordinary efforts over the past decade to help us advance our demands,” Čović said.

“There are three key issues: equality for the Croatian people, internal peace and stability, and our path toward European Union membership. We will continue to pursue these goals.”

Čović also stressed that the proposal would require constitutional changes.

“To achieve that, a two-thirds majority is needed in both chambers of parliament,” he said.

“In other words, it would be very difficult to accomplish without the agreement of both the Bosniaks and the Bosnian Serbs. However, as an idea, it has been around for years.”